so much to say, so little time...

So, I finally, after mucho problemas with computers, chargers, adapters, and internet cafe's, I can update my blog. Sooo much has happened in these 4 days that I will only hit the highlights. However, I feel like I have been in Spain for like 2 weeks now. Especially since we stay up later than my usual be in bed by 10 pm schedule.

Plane ride was good, mainly due to the fact that I was on drugs to take away my extreme fear of flying. But, it flew by and we were in the Madrid airport before we knew it. Funny moment #1: Watching 5 of us typical Baylor girls carrying our enormous luggages across these super busy streets in the center of Madrid trying to follow our professor, Dr. Larson, who was yelling at us to hurry up! And these spaniards drive CRAZY. Almost as bad as in Mexico. They have no boundaries, they just go.

We got to the spot where we met our senora's and I was really surprised by mine, Paquita. She was very fashionable and one of those always has her hair and nails perfectly done kind of a person. After the typical kiss on the cheek greeting, which is so weird, we hopped in a taxi to go to her home or apartment I later found out.

Let's just say the conversation in the car ride was an ultimate disaster. Me, remembering NO spanish, plus getting flustered trying to remember even a little bit, could hardly communicate to her that I did not speak it very well, or even at all. She got that point really quickly and it kinda became awkwardly frustrating for the two of us. So we just sat there...in silence. Good first impression for me!

We made it to her apartment. Took a quick tour of the kitchen, our bathroom, and our room. (pics to come soon once I can get my computer to charge) Our room is precious! From what I hear, I think its bigger than some other senora's houses. That afternoon consisted of many conversations that were a big STRUGGLE betweent the two of us and me just not knowing what to do with myself. We did make it to a mini meat market, where I did remember very clearly how to say I don't like ham or fish. However, she and the meat person thought it would be HILARIOUS for me to try some ham. This was not just any ham, it was a ham shaving of a pig's leg hanging from the ceiling with its hoof and some hairs still on it. Probably the grossest thing I have ever put in my mouth. It got a good reaction out of me. She did go home and make a really good meal. Some kind of fried chicken, but really different from the fried chicken we eat in the US. When I finally had some down time I hit the books, trying to cram as much spanish in my head as I could possibly fit in a short amount of time. I was like speed reading through my spanish-english dictionary.

Finally, that evening, we picked up Robyn, my roommate. But, I had the bad idea of assuring Paquita that Robyn was way better at spanish than me. She gets in the car, and its basically a repeat of my first conversation. We got no where. So Paquita was a little less talkative with Robyn, probably because she knows that anything she tells us is pointless because we just stare at her and say "si, si, si" when we really have no idea what she is saying.

The next day we began school and were rushed through the metro with some friends, which would become our regular route to escuela. This is when I realized, great I really know NO spanish and am one of the worst in my 2 classes. This whole school thing is going to be a struggle for me. We got out, went to the corte ingles, like a mix of a really nice walmart and dillards. Bought a few essentials and went home to another meal with Paquita. The thing about Paquita's meals are that they are no regular meals. They are ENORMOUS. Things we were offered for dinner:

huge portion of soup

tons of bread

apples

eggs

chunks of parmesian cheese

slices of turkey

yogurt

tortiella (mixture of eggs and potatos, really good)

The thing is, after like the soup and bread, we keep telling her we are full and don't want any more food. No she keeps bringing more and keeps bringing more. And this happens every meal. Apparantly she is trying to fatten us up.

That day consisted of tons of instances of us trying to interact with the people of Madrid and failing miserably because the three main people I hang out with are just like me, have no idea how to speak or understand Spanish. Although by now, we are getting a little better.

This is getting long, so here are some highlights of the trip:

Caitlin getting pooped on and hit by a car all in one day (don't worry, she is ok)
Robyn getting her wallet stolen on the metro, with three of us watching the whole thing happening but being to flustered and feeling too rude to say anything. We now realize we were just being idiots
Many instances of us trying to speak to spaniards in spanish and getting answers in english because we clearly seem american
me being dared to prank call my senora, Paquita (did I mention we have problems communicating?)
tasting the many unique concotions of soup Paquita whips together (some good and some bad)
getting lost just about wherever we go, thus getting tons of excerise!
Me almost starting a fire in my senora's house because my adapter doesn't work
I have probably gotten taken advantage of several times when dealing with euros because I have no idea how much things cost
Me and Robyn watching highly and inappropriate and sketchy TV late one night with our senora
Having random conversations with our senora's husband about Texas and him serenading us with old western Texas songs

Much more has happened to us, and I have probably never laughed as hard as I have on this trip. It has been way different than what I expected and I am loving every minute of it. Now its time to stop hacking on to our neighbors internet connection and get back to studying for my first test tomorrow.
Muchos besos,
Maria (my preferred name in Spain)